Frankenstein is a period adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Gothic tale of morality and human beings' craving for love, companionship and understanding. In his ballet, Scarlett says he wanted to stay true to the author's original intentions:

‘I needed it to retain the beauty that Shelley retains on the page', says Scarlett of adapting the novel. 'This isn’t a horror story in the sense of a Hitchcock film. It’s an intimate journey for the audience.'

The English choreographer and Artist in Residence of The Royal Ballet assembled a number of regular collaborators for the work including American composer Lowell Liebermann. Scarlett has used Liebermann's music before to score previous works, but this is the composer's first commissioned score for Scarlett. ‘I wanted something hauntingly beautiful’ says the choreographer, ‘and I think he really has done that.’

Scarlett also enlisted designer and artist John Macfarlane, who staged the ballet in the era of the novel’s publication and includes Gothic motifs such as a lavish manor house and a detailed re-creation of a 19th-century anatomy theatre.

Regarded as one of the most important innovators in 21st century ballet, McGregor was appointed Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet in 2006. Ten years on, the Company celebrates this anniversary with a mixed programme of three works, including the world premiere of Multiverse as well asChromaandCarbon Life.

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During World Ballet Day on 4 October 2016, we invited audiences across the globe to start their day by dancing along with The Royal Ballet during morning class, streamed live via Facebook. If you missed the live broadcast, you can now watch the video on-demand via our YouTube channel.

The film offers a unique window into the daily life of a dancer at The Royal Ballet, showing the dedication and athleticism required for every step, as well as allowing viewers a unique look inside the Company's rehearsal studios.

As well as showing a typical daily class, the session, introduced by Darcey Bussell and Gethin Jones, offers a 'dancer's eye view' on rehearsal, through the GoPro camera strapped to Principal dancer Steven McRae.

'Ballet class is the hardest part of everyone's day, that's where the real work takes place,' Steven explains.

Viewers also hear from Darcey and Gethin throughout the session as they interview dancers and offer commentary on the different stages of class.

'I enjoyed class so much,' Darcey explains, speaking from her experience of dancing with The Royal Ballet. 'It was about perfecting each move and improving, and seeing if you could test yourself, challenge yourself, and see if you could hold something for a bit longer and then catch up.

'I love watching these unbelievably physical bodies,' she adds. 'They're all like athletes now. Ballet in the past wasn't as physical as this. They weren't as supple and as strong!'

We'll be releasing further highlights from the full broadcast over the next few weeks.

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Royal Ballet Principal Steven McRae is the subject of a new short film by The Apiary for online video channel Nowness.

Beyond Ballet explores Steven's twin passions of ballet and motorsport and their influence on the dancer as he was growing up.

'I think my love for the dance world and the world of motor sport is equal', says Steven. 'I grew up in the Western suburbs of Sydney — very far away from a ballet company and happened to be around the corner from Sydney's top race track. I can smell the burning rubber and oil. That's what I knew as a normal childhood.'

'I was thrown on stage at the age of seven and became hooked. The speed, the risk, the attention to detail and the rush of adrenaline — my love of dance had taken hold.'

A new exhibition of photographs by Rick Guest featuring images of members of The Royal Ballet will be on display at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden in January 2016.

The exhibition, entitled What Lies Beneath, will be accompanied by the release of two books of photographs. The first — of the same name — features photographs from the exhibition and the second commemorates Rick’s 2013 exhibition, The Language of the Soul.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Nutcracker, the go-to favourite of ballet companies (and audiences) around the world. Fortunately, there are many versions to choose from on DVD and Blu-Ray, so you can enjoy the experience at home as well as in the theatre.

Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet is many people's Nutcracker of choice. As traditional as Christmas pudding, it boasts lavish sets, gorgeous costumes and quite the most spectacular transformation scene you are likely to see. We have two versions available, from 2000 and 2009 respectively. Both star the breathtaking Miyako Yoshida as the Sugar Plum Fairy. In the first her prince is Royal Ballet legend Jonathan Cope, with an emergent Alina Cojocaru as Clara and Ivan Putrov as the Nutcracker. There’s an excellent bonus on this DVD showing the technical magic that makes the transformation scene work. Broadcast in cinemas worldwide in 2009, the newer recording features Steven McRae as the Prince, with Iohna Loots as Clara and Ricardo Cervera as the Nutcracker. Whichever you choose, you’ll be getting The Royal Ballet’s full Nutcracker experience to enjoy all year round.

Amidst a host of filmed Nutcrackers, a new one of note comes from Berlin State Ballet. As with The Royal Ballet's version, it’s a fully traditional production with lavish décor and costumes, which shows off an excellent company. Iana Salenko, who has been a very welcome guest dancer with The Royal Ballet recently, gives a spellbinding performance.

Tchaikovsky’s wondrous score has been recorded more times than Christmas has come round itself. Many are of extremely high quality but we particularly recommend André Previn’s celebrated recording on Warner Classics. If you want a grander version, there’s Valery Gergiev’s glittering recording on Universal. Previn’s is the more lyrical and expansive rendition, and Gergiev’s the more exciting. In truth, both recordings are must-hears and you could just as well do with both! Previn’s has the benefit of an abridged recording of La Sylphide on the second disc, and cover art featuring The Royal Ballet’s production.

If you're introducing the ballet to a new generation, we can heartily recommend Prunella Scales’ narrated recording. Scales brings the story to life, and the CD features the most popular musical moments from the score too. Great for children of all ages.

'I grew up in Sydney and I was lucky to have great teachers from day one. They just said "Dance!", whether it was jazz, tap or ballet', Steven said after performing the solo during World Ballet Day earlier this month. 'I think dance education is like your normal education — you do English, Maths, Science — and dance should be the same. I was lucky in that all the different disciplines were encouraged. I had a go at everything and now it's really useful. We have so many incredible choreographers working with us and they like to tap into different styles and challenge the audiences with different vocabulary. I love that I'm able to bring something to that.'

The relay featured a series of backstage films, including rehearsal footage and interviews with members of the cast and creative team.

If you missed the screening on the night, or just want to find out more about the production, here's another chance to see the films:

An introduction to Romeo and Juliet

For Kevin O’Hare, the artistic union of Shakespeare, Prokofiev and MacMillan is ‘the perfect blend’. In this film, both Steven McRae and Sarah Lamb discuss the journey their characters undertake during the ballet, from the initial ‘naivety’ Steven sees in Romeo to Juliet’s rejection of convention. ‘Shakespeare perhaps created one of the first feminists in Juliet’, says Sarah.

The emotional and physical are inextricably linked in Romeo and Juliet, with the fight sequences containing as much feeling as the star-crossed lovers’ pas de deux. Gary Avis, who dances Tybalt, says of the character's fight with Romeo: ‘You’re driven by the pure adrenaline of it all. It’s so brilliantly crafted and constructed as a sword fight.'

Darcey Bussell and Donald MacLeary on the creation of Romeo and Juliet

Fifty years after the production had its premiere, Donald MacLeary, one of the original three Romeos, discusses one of his favorite roles. The production has always inspired passion, both from choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and audiences. MacLeary highlights the production’s ‘huge’ success, with the company, then led by Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, receiving a twenty-minute standing ovation on the original first night.

MacLeary spoke to presenter Darcey Bussell, who he coached as Juliet during her time as a Principal with The Royal Ballet, recollecting stories from his own time as Romeo: ‘One time I was doing the Tybalt fight, and I’m supposed to win… my sword broke… luckily one of the corps de ballet threw me a sword!’.

Behind the scenes during preparations for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet combines ballet with action sequences and involves a large Company. On a tour of the theatre, David Pickering and Dominic Peckham caught a glimpse of Steven McRae rehearsing with répétiteur Lesley Collier, who has herself danced the role of Juliet. This is typical of The Royal Ballet’s répétiteurs, coaches, ballet masters and mistresses, as Pickering explains: ‘They’re great teachers but they’ve had first-hand experience of dancing within the productions’.

Exploring MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet choreography

‘The pas de deux were like a jewel in a ring’, says the choreographer's widow, Deborah MacMillan. This core component of an otherwise vast production portrays the evolution of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, from their initial shyness to their final moments together. Steven highlights just how key the continuity is by Romeo and Juliet’s second appearance together: ‘You see them gradually loosen up with each other and obviously that’s when they genuinely fall in love.'

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Kenneth MacMillan’s emotive adaption of Shakespeare’s great love story, set to Sergey Prokofiev’s powerful and iconic score, is a 20th-century classic. The production, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, had its world premiere to rapturous acclaim in 1965, receiving 43 curtain calls and almost 40 minutes of applause. Now a cherished staple of The Royal Ballet repertory, it has been performed more than 400 times, toured around the world, and in 2011 was adapted for an arena residency at the 02 Arena.

Romeo and Juliet opens The Royal Ballet 2015/16 Season on 19 September.

As well as watching the action in cinemas around the world and BP Big Screens around the UK, you'll also be able to follow the action via our live-blog on the Royal Opera House website, offering a lighter take on all the tragic on-stage action

After the relay on 22 September, we will publish a roundup of the audience tweets, so share your thoughts with the hashtag #ROHromeo.

BP Big Screen audiences will have the opportunity to win a luxury picnic hamper by sharing their picnic pictures from venues around the UK. Details of how to enter will be shared on the day of the relay.